New postal codes in parts of Prince Edward Island are creating problems for some people trying to make purchases or do other day to day business.

Over the last year Canada Post has changed 8,500 postal codes on P.E.I. as part of its effort to eliminate rural route numbers.

CBC has heard from about a dozen Islanders who say when they've tried to update their billing address with certain companies, or purchase products online, they've been told their new postal code is not valid.

Stephanie Veenhuis recently moved to Canoe Cove from Charlottetown, to one of the homes with a new postal code. She has on several occasions encountered a message online saying her postal code isn't valid.

"It's frustrating because I'm trying to do as much as I can online as far as paying bills and shopping and such like that, just out of convenience," said Veenhuis.

"I'm working, I'm busy, I don't have time to sit on the phone and wait for an operator."

Canada Post spokesperson Jon Caines said the corporation hasn't received any complaints, but is now looking into the issue. Caines suspects some companies aren't using Canada Post's address database.

"I don't know where they get their information from or how current it is. That may be the problem," he said.

"Our Canada Post database is updated regularly and any address in there is valid. I would hope it's just a small number of people negatively affected because normally it's just an address change, it doesn't cause any grief."

Caines said anyone who has run into the problem should contact Canada Post so it can investigate.